Find out more about the CIMS

The CIMS webpage has more information about the CIMS, including the policy, link to the incident report webform and client incident register, fact sheets, implementation guidance, learning and development materials and IT requirements.

For assistance with the CIMS, contact the CIMS Helpline: call 1300 024 863 or email CIMS@dhhs.vic.gov.au.

Funded organisations previously reported privacy incidents as category one critical incident reports. With the introduction of the Client Incident Management System (CIMS) a new web based Privacy incident report form was developed to enable funded organisations to continue notifying the department about privacy incidents.

Privacy incidents must be reported within one business day. A privacy breach that impacts a client may need to be reported as a client incident under CIMS as well as through a privacy incident report.

Visit the Privacy page for more information, including a link to the Privacy incident report web form, fact sheets and guidelines.

What is happening?

The Victorian Government is strengthening the safeguards for people with a disability and implementing the recommendations of the Parliamentary Inquiry into Abuse in Disability Services (the Parliamentary Inquiry). The Parliamentary Inquiry was set up to investigate why abuse is not always reported in the disability sector and responded to, and how abuse can be prevented.

As part of its response to the Parliamentary Inquiry, the Victorian Government is increasing the independent oversight of the disability sector by expanding the Disability Services Commissioner's (the Commissioner) inquiries into client incident reports to include client deaths.

Victoria has also agreed to the Commonwealth Government's National Quality and Safeguards Framework for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which will establish the national safeguards under the NDIS. Until that framework is in place, the government will continue its work to implement the Parliamentary Inquiry's recommendations and ensure the highest standards of quality and support for people with a disability.

Expanded review of critical incidents

The department currently provides the Commissioner with all Category One incident reports of:

injury

sexual assault

physical assault

poor quality of care

As of 23 September 2017, the Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing has expanded the Commissioner's review of client incident reports to includeall deaths of a client (Category One and Category Two deaths) and deaths referred to the Commissioner by the Coroner where the deceased was a person with a disability who was receiving services at the time of the person’s death.

This means that the department will send to the Commissioner all incident reports that it receives about client deaths.

The expanded referral is effective to 30 June 2019.

Services in scope

The Commissioner's inquiries into assault, injury, poor quality of care and deaths apply to disability services provided by the department and disability service providers registered, funded or contracted under the Disability Act 2006 (the Act).

During the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), this includes Victorian approved NDIS providers registered under the Act.

Further information

For further information about the Commissioner’s new functions and powers, see: